100 Greatest Cult Films

April 1, 2018

Olson (Making Sense of Cinema) offers an admittedly subjective list of the greatest cult movies focusing on feature-length American productions. Each entry, presented alphabetically, features an info box listing directing, writing, and acting credits, the runtime, associated genres, and availability. This is followed by a quick plot summary, thorough information on the background and production and exuberant commentary. Each of the 100 entries also includes a still and a "see also" reference, perfect for readers looking to host a Killer Klowns from Outer Space-themed movie marathon. Olson includes obvious entries such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Plan 9 from Outer Space, but he also makes an argument for The Shawshank Redemption being a cult movie and highlights lesser-known films such as Ganja & Hess. Finally, readers searching for their favorite cult movie (Troll 2) may find a brief entry in one of the book's five themed appendixes. Though lacking a detailed table of contents, this is a great starting point for research. It's also an excellent way to find hidden gems. VERDICT Olson's knowledge and enthusiasm shine through as he guides readers on a fun, thoughtful romp through cult cinema.--Terry Bosky, Madison, WI

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2018
Choosing the greatest cult films is a losing proposition because it is so hard to get consensus. Olson (Possessed Women, Haunted States, with Carrielynn D. Reinhard, 2016) used crowdsourcing and his own longtime critical viewing to identify the 100 best, limited to one per director. Each entry is about two pages in length; information includes a brief plot line, background information about the film's development and production, editorial commentary, and a see also list of similar films. Most entries include a black-and-white studio photo; several entries have a spotlight box about the film studio, writer, director, or actor. Five appendixes and almost forty pages of endnotes conclude the volume. The films selected skew toward horror/violence, covering Death Race, Evil Dead II, Punisher: War Zone, and Trick ?r Treat. The writing is clear. The commentary is personal, yet expert and justified. This collection should attract film fans and start heated discussions.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)